By Anne Marie Gattari
MSU Law
Two alumnae of Michigan State University College of Law won a hard-fought immigration case in late September in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Elinor “Elly” Jordan, ’11, and Polina Hristova, ’20, are attorneys at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and argued the case in favor of their clients, two Guatemalan sisters seeking U.S. asylum. The sisters were threatened by gang members in their home country.
(Mazariegos-Rodas v. Merrick B. Garland)
The case is notable for its potential to influence similar future cases, said MSU Law Professor David Thronson, one of the country’s foremost immigration legal scholars.
“[In this case] the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals set important parameters on the government's consideration of evidence related to the reasons that motivated persecution,” Thronson said. “This precedent will help not only the clients in this matter but also will influence hundreds of cases with similar issues.
“Elly and Polina provided excellent representation for their client,” he said. “They were stellar students then and are excelling as immigration lawyers now.”
Currently, some three million immigration cases are pending in U.S. courts. Fewer than 30 percent of them have legal counsel, Thronson said.
Through its Immigration Law Clinic, MSU Law students work under the supervision of Professor Veronica Thronson, an immigration legal scholar, and work to make a difference.
Jordan credited Veronica and David Thronson with her success in immigration law.
“I consistently measure the caliber of services I offer against the standard set by the Thronsons,” she said.
“Because of their leadership, I was able to develop a niche specialty in serving immigrant children.
“This gave me the grounding I would need to convince the Sixth Circuit to look closely at protections to which kids are entitled,” said Jordan.
Said Interim Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio: "We are so proud of the positive impact our alumni are making on people's lives with their MSU Law degrees.”
MSU Law
Two alumnae of Michigan State University College of Law won a hard-fought immigration case in late September in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Elinor “Elly” Jordan, ’11, and Polina Hristova, ’20, are attorneys at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and argued the case in favor of their clients, two Guatemalan sisters seeking U.S. asylum. The sisters were threatened by gang members in their home country.
(Mazariegos-Rodas v. Merrick B. Garland)
The case is notable for its potential to influence similar future cases, said MSU Law Professor David Thronson, one of the country’s foremost immigration legal scholars.
“[In this case] the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals set important parameters on the government's consideration of evidence related to the reasons that motivated persecution,” Thronson said. “This precedent will help not only the clients in this matter but also will influence hundreds of cases with similar issues.
“Elly and Polina provided excellent representation for their client,” he said. “They were stellar students then and are excelling as immigration lawyers now.”
Currently, some three million immigration cases are pending in U.S. courts. Fewer than 30 percent of them have legal counsel, Thronson said.
Through its Immigration Law Clinic, MSU Law students work under the supervision of Professor Veronica Thronson, an immigration legal scholar, and work to make a difference.
Jordan credited Veronica and David Thronson with her success in immigration law.
“I consistently measure the caliber of services I offer against the standard set by the Thronsons,” she said.
“Because of their leadership, I was able to develop a niche specialty in serving immigrant children.
“This gave me the grounding I would need to convince the Sixth Circuit to look closely at protections to which kids are entitled,” said Jordan.
Said Interim Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio: "We are so proud of the positive impact our alumni are making on people's lives with their MSU Law degrees.”
